Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychological disorder as secondary to service-connected eye injury residuals. The decision also addressed other issues such as cranial nerve dysfunction, seizure disorder, back disorder, condition of shoulders and knees, right thumb disorder, and hypnotism.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a back disorder, and a psychiatric disability (including post-traumatic stress disorder) due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has directed additional development of the evidence, including a VA examination for the veteran's back disability and consideration of whether he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The case will be returned to the RO after these actions are completed.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification. The case is now being sent back to the RO for development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the physician who examined the veteran in May 2002.

The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain further medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the veteran's low back disability, as it may be related to his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation higher than 40 percent from May 19, 1990 to October 6, 1993 for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and right femur shortening with low back and right hip pain, finding no evidence of an increase in disability during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected recurrent low back pain, and also denied the propriety of reducing his evaluation from 20 percent to zero percent effective May 11, 1995. The appeal is currently pending.

The veteran's disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and tendonitis/bursitis of the shoulders, do not meet the criteria for a combined 100 percent schedular disability rating. The Board finds that his disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disability is related to spinal taps performed during service.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, which was due to adenocarcinoma of the colon with extensive metastatic liver disease and possible lung metastases, is not related to any service-connected condition. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the neck and back due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim with additional evidence.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current back or wrist and hand conditions to service, including any incidents of harassment. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded back to the RO for further examination and consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a back condition, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending requests for additional evidence. The case is now being remanded back to the RO for additional development of medical records.

The veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative joint disease of his lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint. The VA has requested a supplemental medical nexus opinion to determine the cause of the veteran's current low back pathology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a low back disorder.